Inse’s heart pounded as he scanned the basketball team list. His name was missing.
His stomach sank. The voice of insecurity in his head sneered, You weren’t good enough. You’ll never be good enough.
He turned away, his chest heavy. That’s when Curity found him.
“Inse, what’s wrong?” she asked gently.
“I didn’t make the team,” he muttered. “All that practice… and I still failed.”
Curity folded her arms. “I know this hurts, but this isn’t the end. Want to try using the Five Transformations to handle it?”
Inse hesitated, then sighed. “I guess it’s better than feeling miserable.”
1 TFM – Ignore the Voice of Insecurity
Curity nodded. “First, let’s ignore the voice of insecurity. What’s it saying to you?”
“That I’ll never be good enough,” Inse admitted.
“Now, imagine that voice as an annoying TV commercial. What do you do when a commercial comes on that you don’t like?”
“Mute it,” Inse said with a small smile.
“Exactly,” Curity said. “Mute that voice.”
Inse took a deep breath and imagined pressing the mute button. The voice grew distant.
2 TFM – Use the Voice of Insecurity for Amusement and Inspiration
Curity grinned. “Now, let’s make that voice sound ridiculous.”
Inse smirked. “Like a chipmunk saying, ‘You stink at basketball!’”
They both laughed.
“See? That voice isn’t so scary now,” Curity said. “And instead of letting it stop you, use it to inspire you to get better.”
Inse nodded. “Yeah! I’ll prove it wrong.”
3 TFM – Let the Voice of Security be Your Guide
“Now, let’s give the voice of security a turn,” Curity said. “What’s a better message to tell yourself?”
Inse thought for a moment. “I’m not bad at basketball—I’m just not ready yet.”
Curity smiled. “Perfect. That’s the voice of security guiding you.”
4 TFM – Act Despite the Voice of Insecurity
“But what if I still feel disappointed?” Inse asked.
Curity shrugged. “It’s okay to feel disappointed. But the trick is to act anyway. What’s your next step?”
Inse squared his shoulders. “I’ll train every day. Maybe even ask a coach for help.”
“That’s a great plan,” Curity said.
5 TFM – Befriend Your Inner Voice
As they walked toward the basketball court, Inse turned to Curity. “So, instead of fighting my thoughts, I should listen and learn from them?”
“Exactly,” Curity said. “Your inner voice will always be there. But now, instead of letting insecurity control you, you’re in charge.”
Inse picked up a basketball. “Then let’s get to work.”
Disappointment happens, but it doesn’t define us. By using the Five Transformations, we can bounce back, grow, and become stronger. 😊
